Railway signal lantern



Dec. 4, 1923. 1,476,037

'i R.B' .BENJAM1'N RAILWAY SIGNAL LVANTERN med pril 5. 1920 s sheets-sheet 1 I Dec. 4,1923.

RB. BENJAMIN RAILWAY SIGNAL LANTERN Dec.' 4,1923. I 1,476,037

R. B. BENJAMIN RAILWAY SIGNAL LANTERN b11111111 11pm 5., 1912erv 'Y -s sheets-'sheet Patented Dec. '4,1 1923.' 'Y

f that l nEUBEii B. BENJAMIN, or cHIcAso,"II.LIi\ioIs, `Assi'efiv'oln f o BnIIaAIJIIn ELECT-RIC' MANUFACTURING COMPANY, or CHICAGO, vII-niivois, A; yeonroIeA'rIon or ILLINOIS.

RAILWAY SIGNAL LANTERN.

y Application .ined April 5.

To allfwhom t may concern;

Be it known that I, REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, a citizen of the'United States, residing` at Chicago, in the county of Cook andState of Illinois, have invented new and useful lmprovements in Railway Signal Lanterns, of which the following is a full, cleaigcoiicise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forminga part of` this specication.

My invention relates to and more specifically to lanterns. n

One of the objects ofiny invention is to provide an improved lighting device which can be easilyand quickly attached and detached. 1 V. f

A further lobject 'of my invention is to provide an improved lighting device which can be attached in various positions.

A further object offiny ,invention is to provide anY improved lighting device which lighting devices railway signal [will be vdurable and efficient innee, simple,l

Y in: construction4 and cheap to manufacture.

Y tern; v

Fig 8 is a .fragmentary axial section showing aV modification vin which the lantern;

appended claims. Y

`'In Vthe drawings in 'which two embodi ments of my invention are shown :Y

Fig;` 1 is an axial section of a railway signal lantern on Ythe line 1-1 of Fig. 2; v

F ig. 2iis a plan view Vof the lantern and ypart of av connection shown-in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan View Yof that portion of the device which staysin place ;V I

Y Fig. 4; is a section on the line P-4 of Fig.'2; 'v Y .Fig y5 is a perspectii'feview of a switch arm; v Y

Fig. Gis a fragmentary sectional View of the outer part ofthe lantern.;

Fig. 7 sa bottom pT an ViewV of the Ylanisnot providedwith a switch;'

Fig. 9 is `a-fragmentary plan view oftheV detachment; and r Fig. 10 is a top plan receptacle and' a portion of the supporting bracket. f f Y A The construction shown comprises in al general waya -permanentportion which rel 'p mains Vin place on the locomotive, comprising-a' wiring base l0 and center and side con-y .Further objects will'appeai' from the detailed. description-to follow and from the view of the lantern Y 192e. serial no gevraes.

tacts l11 and 12,i and'a detachable lantern,-

" traan comprising a lamp rece'ptacle'13having` center and side contacts 14 and 15 vrespectively, for quick ldetachable engagement with respect toj the center and side. contacts 11 andy 12 respectively, and a casing 16 l for housing the `receptacle 13 in the upper part thereof and a lanip 17. supported withinsaid casing. Y Y l I The detachable lanternhasasort of bayo-v net joint connection with the partv of thedevice which remains in place, the lantern for this purpose being provided with a handle portion V18 (Figs. land 7)v surrounding the f opening inthe casing 16 through which the lamp 1.7 isinserted and removed. j

*A For inserting and removing the lamp n 17,

the bottom19 of the casing is provided with a hinged dooi' 20. In order to turn the light onor off, the receptacle 13 is provided with a switch mechanism 21 having an operating button or handle 22, which projects through the bottonrof the casing, so as to `be accessible for operation. f

I In order that the detachable part of the lantern may be connected to the permanent part .in various `positions of rotatable ad? d justnient,fthe bayonet joint connection is so made that the connection may be effected in four different positionsat degrees apart.

vThe casing is vprovided with a plurality of lenses (two areshown) 23 and 24:, which lenses may ,be of any desired color suitable for-signaling purposes.` The lantern may be attached so that any lens may be atl the top, bottom, or at either side.

For effecting the. bayonet joint connection f between. the removable and the stationary. part,r thestationary part isV provided with four posts or buttons 25 for engagement re.-

Vspectively with the four key-'hole slots 2 in the upperpart of thelcasing- 16. 1 Inorder to centerl the casing with respect to theyperinanentpart-of' thedev'ice, the.` housingniember 27 of .theperinanent part ofthe device is'provided with Van annular? flange 28, which'fsuriounds and receives the cylindrical portion Q29' .of theI casing 16.j This centers the ca'singfwith respectto the housing 27v andy assists in guiding the .parts together so thatthe buttons 25 will prop?l ice Y erly engage the enlarged portionscf the bayonetfor'key-hole slots 26.? i

En orderfto holdV the casing 1.6"in;.pl'ace p within the-:housing .27 after the :bayonet joint Vconnection has been eltected, an annularl la'tching member 30 is provided, having tour holes through which the posts or buttons 25 extend, and provided with four Vcoil compression springs 31, for yieldingly holding this latching member in engage,- ment with the inner end of the housing 16. The spring pressed latchinglring 39 is provided with means for preventing the casing l()V 16 from twisting after it has been rotated into place, these` means comprising four downwardly pressed straps 32, pressed out ot the material of the latching ring, which ride down into the enlarged portions of the` keyhole slots 26 when the casing 16 'is rrotated to effect the bayonet joint connection.^

. 1n 'order that the la-tching ring 30 will not' have to be rforced inwardly when'the casing 16 is first in position to make the bayonet joint connection, the upper end of the casing 16 is depressed at four points,

as indicatedL at 38, corresponding to the depressed portions 82 of the latching ring, the depressed portions being located so that when the casing 16 is first presented for makin@ the baiionet 'oint connection, l h the depressed portions 32 ot the latching Yring` will enter the depressions 33 of the casing` so that 1t will not be necessary to so that this latching ring cannot come clear out to the heads of these posts, but the keyhole bayonet joint slots 26 are large enough so that they can receive these shoulders 34,

-so that the edge of the key-hole slot can slip between the head of the button or post 25 and the latching ring 30.

K'The edges. oi `the key-hole slots 26 are made inclined, so that as the casing 16 is rotated to make the bayonet joint connection it will also be gradually forced inwardly,

to cause aV good contact to be made between the contacts 14 and 15 of the detachable portion with the contacts 11 and 12 of the wiring base. Coming now to the detail construction ot the wiring base, this comprises an insulating base 85 on which the center y and side contacts '11.and'12 are mounted,

1 for the contacts 11 and v12.

of a pair of screws 38.

provided in the wiring base or'the `feed.

and wiring` terminals 36 and 37 respectively The insulating base is secured in the housing 27 by means Openings 39 are wires which are led into the housing 27 through the conduit 40. The side contacts 12 are located on opposite sides ofthe center contacts 11 in position to engagethe annular side Acontact 15 on thedetachable receptacle 16. j

The :switch receptacle 13 comprises a twopartA insulating base on the inner part 41 of which are mounted the center and side con` tacts 14 and 15 respectively, the' center and side contacts 42 and 43 of the receptacle or socket, and thel switch mechanism 21. The outer base portion 45 servesasa cover itor the switch mechanism and as a housing' for the receptacle contact, the two parts ofthe 'Y base being secured together by means of screws 46. Y Y

rThe switch mechanism21 itself may be of any suitable type, and as shown"comp-risesV a snap toggle switchhaving apivoted switch arm 47 and an actuatingrlever 48 which is Y connected with the butto-n 22 by means ot' a link 49 '(Fig.` 4).y In order to relieve the switch inec ianisin from Vundue strain, a j-v'ielding connection is provided between the button and the link 49, this yielding connection comprising a coil compression spring` 5), one end of whichV bears against the shoul- The outer end of the link 49 is The switch arm 47 comprises, Yas shown in Figa-5, a pivotedVU-shaped arm 54', which may be a sheet metal stamping-and ano-ther sheet metal stamping 55, whichr is bent to form two U-shaped contact.V members 56 which straddle the arms vof the' U-shaped member 54, and a connection member V57 which extends across the edge of the connecting part of the U-ishaped member 54,

the arms ot' the U-shaped connecting meinber'54 having lugs 58 struck inwardly therefrom for engaging the edge -of the U- shaped contact piece 56. The lug 5S, in connection with the cross piece 57, holds the member 55 securely in position on 'the U- shaped member 54. Y Y nected to the bottom V19 of the casing, by means oit' bent tongues 59, which extend through openings 60 inthe bottom 19 of the casing and are looped around stra-p .portions formed integral with the bottom of the casing19. A strap handle 60a is provided for the door 20. A spring latch 61 is secured to the casing and engages the edgeof the door to hold it in enclosedposition.

In use, if the detachable portion'fis disconnected from the portion which stays in place, andit is desired'to connect'up, the casing 16 is brought into the desired position vforI inaking'the bayonet joint connection and given a slightturn sulticient to iper-V mit the latching member 8O to mover into latching position. -As previously stated the lantern can be Vconnected in vany vone of Thefdoor 2O is contour different positions, as anyV one of the` bayonet slots 26 can engage any one 'of the The lamp can be turned four buttons 25.

, lamp 17, shell contact 43, switch 21, annular Aside contact 15, side contact 12to the wiring terminal 37.

The switch mechanism 21 controls the circuit between theshell receptaclecontact 43 and the annular side contact 15, the arm 47 of the switch being movable into and out of engagement with theY contact pieces 62 and 63, the contact 62 being electrically connected with the annularside contact 15, and the contact l63 being electrically connected with the shell receptacle contact 43, as sho-wn in Fig. 2. y Y' .v In Figs. .S and 9 the construction isisubstantially the saine as in the form just de# scribed, except that the` switch vmechanism is omitted, the receptacle, base 64, which supports the contact 14 and the shell contact 43 being inade in one piece. Gtherwise the construction is substantially the saine, the casing 16 being inserted within the flange portion 28 of the housing 27, and connected with the four buttons 25, the latching ring 30 engaging the housing 16 to hold the bayonet joint in connected position, the center andY side contacts 14 and 16 of the receptacle engaging the center and side contacts 11 and 12 of the wiring base respectively, and the circuit being from the center Contact 1l:

through the center contact 14 through the lamp 17 to the shell contact 43 and thence to the side contact 15 and to the side. Contact 12.

The housing member 27 of the permanent part of the device may be secured to the locomotive in any suitable manner, as by means rof screws 65 (Fig. 10) extending through registering openings in the bottom of, the

casing 27v and the supporting bracket 66 the supporting bracket 66 being secured in any suitable manner to the locomotive.

Having thus described my invention, what part, and a lantern, said lantern comprising l a casing for the lamp, an electric lamp socket in said casing, said casing being provided with a plurality of bulls-eyes, means Whereby said lantern may be connected with respect to said permanent part in different positions oi rotative adjustment', whereby said bulls-eyes may be displayed in differentV positions, said permanent part beinglprovided Vwith center and side contacts, said lantern also having center and side contacts Y' for enfraoinff the erinanent contacts said Y b. D r ,i

connecting means comprising al bayonet Joint, all of saidcontacts vand said bayonet joint lying substantially inthe same plane,

said bayonet Y. jointvgbeing r.coaxial 'with'said center contact.. I

'2. Arailwayilighting device'comprisinga permanently installed lantern 'supporting'.

. )art anda lantern saidlantein'co'm risino av easing? for the lamp,anelectric lamp; socket in saidcasing, saidcasing beingprovi'ded with a plurality otbulls-eyes, means where-fA by. said lantern may be connectedand-dis connectedA withrespect to said permanentpart in ditlerent positions of rotativeadj ustnient,whereby Vsaid bulls-eyes may be dis-` played in dit-'erent positions, said socketbef ing mounted in one-endet said casingyand a doorin the opposite end ot the casing Yfor the insertion and removal oit' thelanip,'said bulls--eyes being mounted on that part ofthe casing between the socket aiiddooizV A Y 3,.v A railway lighting device comprisi-iiga permanently installed lantern;supporting part and a lantern, said lantern vcomprising a casing for the lamp, an electriclamp socket in said casing, said casing being provided with va plurality of bulls-reyes, means whereby saidlantern may be connected and disconnected with respect to said` permanent part in d.iferentpsitions of rotative adjustment, whereby said bulls-eyes. maybe displayedA in diii'e'rent positions, said socketV being mounted atV oneend of said casing, saidwcas`-A ing being provided with a handhole member at the opposite end of said casing for use in connecting and disconnecting said lantern with respect to said permanent part.`

4. A railway lighting device comprising a permanently installed lantern supporting part and a lantern, said lantern comprising a casing for the lamp, an electric lamp socket in said casing, said casing being provided with a plurality of bulls-eyes, means whereby said lantern may be connected and disconnected with respect to said permanent part in different positions of rotative adjustment, whereby said bulls-eyes maybe displayed in different positions, said socket being mounted in one end of said casingJ and a doorin the'opposite end of thecasing for the insertion and removal ot the lamp, said bulls-eyes'being mounted on that part of the casing between the socket and door, said casing being provided l,with an annular hand-hold member surrounding said door said door ,beingv accessible through said annular hand-hold member.

5. A railway lighting device comprising a permanently installed lantern supporting part, and a lantern, said lanterngcomprising a casing for the lamp, an electric lampsocket l l.

in said casing, said casing being provided with a plurality of bulls-eyes, means whereby jsaid lantern may be connected with respectl to said permanent part inv different positions of rotative adjustment, whereby said bulPS-eyes may be displayed in differ? ent positions, said permanent parti being provided with center and side contacts, said lantern alsohaving center and side contacts for engaging the permanent contacts, said connecting means comprising la bayonet jointfall of said contacts and said bayonet joint lying` substantially in the Same plane, said' bayonetA joint being coaxial with said center Contact, said bayonet joint connection comprisingY a plurality of Vheaded pins mounted on said permanentrpart extending parallel to the axis lof said socken and a plurality of slots in the end of'said casing for cooperation With the headsy oit said pins.

6. Alighting` device comprising a permavnent lantern supportii'igpart, a part having a qnic'k detachable*engagement with said permanent part, said permanent part comprsing an insulating base, Wiring; terminals nection comprising a bayonet joint, a 'plurality, ot buttons engaging' the bayonet slots in the upper part of the casing, and a latching ring slidably mounted 4on Said buttons.' l Q Y YJA lighting` device comprising a permanent lantern supporting part, a part having,

aquick'detachable connection with respect to the permanent part, the permanent part comprising Wiring terminals and contacts, the quick detachable part comprising a lamp receptacle and' contacts for'qnick engagement with respect to said lir'st contact, Va switch mechanism, a casing' for the lampin said receptacle.y Vsaid casing having a door at the `bott-om for the insertion oli-removal 01"" the lamp with respect to the casing, and said switch mechanism having an operating member extending through said bottom in accessible position. Y

In Witness whereof, l have hereunto sub-v scribed my name.

REUBEN n. nnNJAMiN. 

